Parcel sorting conveyor system

ABSTRACT

An endless parcel sorting conveyor system embodying a plurality of contiguous parcel receiving receptacles movable through a predetermined orbit. Deflecting means associated with each of said parcel receiving receptacles including track elements. Said deflecting means is activatable upon command to tilt said receptacles from a normal parcel receiving position to the right or left of the line of travel in said orbit discharging by gravity parcels thereon at predetermined positions. The parcel sorting conveyor system also includes reset deflector means selectively positioned therealong adapted to return said parcel receiving receptacles to said normal parcel receiving position.

United States Patent [15] 3,662,874 1 May 16, 1972 Muller [54] PARCELSORTING CONVEYOR SYSTEM [72] Inventor: Donald C. Muller, Whittier,Calif. [73] Assignee: Butz Engineering Corporation, Azusa,

Calif.

[22] Filed: Oct. 12,1970 [21 Appl. No: 79,928

[52] U.S.Cl ..198/l55,l98/38 [51] Int.Cl ..B65gl7/18 [58] FieldoiSearch..l98/38,l55;214/llR,llAST [5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS3,231,066 1/1966 Harrison ..198/l55 3,167,192 l/l965 Harrison ..198/l55XPrimary Examiner-Edward A. Sroka Attorney-Huebner & Worrel [5 7]ABSTRACT An endless parcel sorting conveyor system embodying a pluralityof contiguous parcel receiving receptacles movable through apredetermined orbit. Deflecting means associated with each of saidparcel receiving receptacles including track elements. Said deflectingmeans is activatable upon command to tilt said receptacles from a normalparcel receiving position to the right or left of the line of travel insaid orbit discharging by gravity parcels thereon at predeterminedpositions. The parcel sorting conveyor system also includes resetdeflector means selectively positioned therealong adapted to return saidparcel receiving receptacles to said normal parcel receiving position.

14 Claims, 39 Drawing Figures PATENTEDMAY 16 I972 3, 662 874 SHEET 01 0F18 I r' when F Don/01.0 C. Ill/4.4.52

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SHEET 15 0F 18 .ZPVVEA/ 70,2

PATENTEDIAY 16 I972 sum 18 0F 18 INVENTO/Q. DOA/9L0 C. MULLER M MfiTTOE/VEJJ.

HHU "HM (WU GU 1 PARCEL SORT'ING CONVEYOR SYSTEM BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION Heretofore in conveyor and sorting systems, certain mechanicalfeatures, by way of physical deflecting barriers have been utilized inthe path of travel of the conveyor to discharge parcels or itemstraveling along the conveyor system. Also, other systems require the useof human labor to physically remove parcels at designated areas which iscumbersome and expensive.

Also, when using barriers to deflect even if mechanically activatable itrequires relatively short conveyor systems where the barriers areclearly visable to an operator, or if longer conveyors are utilized,additional personnel are required in the area of the barrier to assureproper actuation as to timing and placement.

Some of the prior art has utilized a belt type of conveyor which canincrease the problem of appropriate discharge at the place desired ofthe parcels spaced therealong because of bunching and lack ofpre-sorting into designated groups.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is the object of this invention to provide aplurality of contiguous receptacles wherein parcels may be pre-sortedand placed thereon and selectively discharged by gravity normal to theline of travel of the parcel sorting conveyor system. This invention isparticularly helpful in the sorting of mail, parcels and other itemswhere a relatively large and continuous volume is encountered.

With this invention it is only necessary that there be a console at oneend of the conveyor system whereby a person may,

by any appropriate control means, activate deflector means embodied inthis invention whereby the individual receptacles may be tilted to theright or left of the line of travel and gravity will cause parcelsthereon to exit from the conveyor to a subconveyor, platform or otherfurther sorting device.

Each of the contiguous parcel receiving receptacle means of thisinvention is separate and tiltable to the right or left of the line oftravel or remain horizontal upon command. The conveyor system wouldgenerally be referred to as an endless conveyor means which carriesparcels in the receptacles along the top of the conveyor to a desiredlocation where the receptacles are tilted and emptied then reset to aparcel receiving position and pass around the ends of the conveyor meansbelow the top receptacles and then back around the other end ready forloading and discharge in the upper or top position.

These and other objects and advantages will become apparent from thefollowing description and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top elevational,environmental view of several parcel sorting conveyor systems embodyingthe features of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1illustrating the head end of a parcel sorting conveyor means;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional, partially in phantom view taken on line 3-3of FIG. 2;

F IG. 4 is a cross sectional view, partially in phantom, taken on line44 ofFIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of a part of the rail guide assembly ofthe deflector means and reset deflector means taken on line 5-5 of FIG.4;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 4illustrating one of the contiguous receptacles and its associatedreceptacle carriage unit;

FIG. 7 is an exploded top elevational view partly in section, takenalong line 7-7 of FIG. 6 illustrating additional details of a receptaclecarriage unit;

FIG. 8 is a view of the receptacle and receptacle carriage unit,partially in phantom, together with a portion of the guide trackassembly deflector means and reset deflector means taken on line 8-8 ofFIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8 illustrating deflector means whichmay be employed to cause tilting of the receptacle in a left directionto the line of travel;

FIG. 10 is a slightly enlarged detailed view of a stabilizing guideroller of the receptacle carriage unit taken on line 10- 10 of FIG. 6;

FIGS. 11 through 19 illustrate various combinations of the guide trackassembly, deflector means and reset deflector means which are utilizedto cause tilting and righting of the receptacles;

FIG. 20 is a detailed side elevational view of a left deflector meansinterposed in the guide track assembly;

FIG. 21 is a sectional view taken on line 21-21 of FIG. 20;

FIG. 21a is a sectional view taken on line 21a-21a of FIG. 20;

FIG. 22 is a side elevational view of a left reset deflector means;

FIG. 23 is a view similar to FIG. 22 but partially in section showingthe left reset deflector means in a different position;

FIG. 24 is a top elevational view of the left reset deflector meanstaken on line 24-24 of FIG. 22;

FIG. 25 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 25-25 of FIG. 22;

FIG. 26 is en enlarged detailed sectional view taken on line 26-26 ofFIG. 25;

FIG. 27 is a side elevational view of a right deflector means interposedin the guide track assembly;

FIG. 28 is a detailed sectional view taken on line 28-28 of FIG. 27;

FIG. 28a is a sectional view taken on line 28a-28a of FIG. 27;

FIG. 29 is a side elevational view of a right reset deflector means;

FIG. 30 is a view similar to FIG. 29 but partially in section,illustrating the right reset deflector means in a different position;

FIG. 31 is a top elevational view of the right reset deflector meanstaken on line 31-31 of FIG. 29;

FIG. 32 is a vertical sectional view of a portion of the right resetdeflector means taken on line 32-32 of FIG. 29;

FIG. 33 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 33-33 of FIG. 32;

FIG. 34 is a side elevational view taken on line 34-34 of FIG. 1,illustrating the tail end of the parcel sorting conveyor means oppositethe head end illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 35 is a view taken on line 35-35 of FIG. 34 illustrating aplurality of contiguous receptacles;

FIG. 36 is an elevational view, partly in section, showing the drivemechanism of the conveyor means taken along line 36- 36 of FIG. 34; and

FIG. 37 is a sectional view taken along lines 37-37 of FIG. 34illustrating further details of the conveyor means drive mechanism.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 is an environmental viewof several parcel sorting conveyor means or systems generally designated50. As can be seen there are three such parcel sorting conveyor systems50 which are independent and for purposes of illustration, parallel onewith the other. The particular system 50 is adaptable for use in PostOffices and in factories or businesses wherein it is desired to conveyparcels, packages, parts, etc., along a conveyor system in relativelylarge volume and to sort them by depositing or deflecting the parcels,packages, parts, etc., from the conveyor system 50 during transit.

The parcel sorting conveyor system 50 move in the direction of thearrow, that is, from left to right, when viewing FIG. 1. In thepreferred embodiment a loading platform generally designated 52 is builtaround the head end generally designated 54 of the parcel sortingconveyor system 50. Packages or parcels are preferably pre-sorted,loaded on the parcel sorting conveyor means 50 from the loading platform

1. An endless conveyor means adapted to receive and move parcelstherealong and selectively discharge said parcels normal to the line oftravel of said conveyor means comprising: an endless drive means; motormeans associated with said drive means and adapted to be energized tomove said endless drive means; a plurality of contiguous parcelreceptacle means each having a portion fixed to said endless drivemeans, and a tiltable parcel receiving portion pivotally mounted thereonnormally riding in a horizontal position relative to the line of travel;guide means paralleling said endless drive means and spaced therefrom,said guide means engageable by said portion of said parcel receptaclemeans fixed to said endless drive means whereby said portion isstabilized during movement; reset means positioned generally parallelwith said guide means; actuator means riding in said reset means andsecured to said parcel receiving portion of said receptacle means;single direction deflecting means selectively positioned in said resetmeans adapted to vertically shift said actuator means and pivot saidparcel receiving portion in said desired direction normal to the line oftravel whereby a parcel thereon will be gravitationally dischargedtherefrom and further vertically shift said actuator means to returnsaid parcel receiving portion to said generally horizontal positionafter said discharge wherein said single direction deflecting meansincludes gates positioned in said reset means which normally arestabilized in a horizontal position to form a continuation of said resetmeans but which may be moved from said horizontal position in a verticalplane relative thereto to effect a tilting of said parcel receivingportion and return to said horizontal position relative to the line oftravel.
 2. An endless conveyor means as defined in claim 1 wherein saidsingle direction deflecting means adapted to vertically shift saidactuator means returning said parcel receiving portion to said generallyhorizontal position includes a ramp communicable with said reset meansand wherein said ramp is pivotable and includes a counterweight tomaintain said ramp in a horizontal position; said ramp adapted toyieldably pivot when said counterweight is momentarily overcome by theweight of said actuator means to engage said reset means and cause thevertical shifting of said actuator means.
 3. An endless conveyor meansas defined in claim 1 wherein said gates include deflector actuatormeans which may be selectively energized to effect movement of saidgates.
 4. An endless conveyor means as defined in claim 1 wherein saidactuator means includes an actuator arm pivotally connected to saidportion of said parcel receptacle means fixed to said endless drivemeans and a roller mounted on said arm remote from said pivotalconnection riding in said reset means and a coNnecting rod extendingbetween said parcel receiving portion and said actuator arm.
 5. Anendless parcel sorting conveyor system adapted to receive and moveparcels normal to the line of travel of said system comprising: a frame,a plurality of contiguous parcel receptacle means movably mounted onsaid frame, and each of said receptacle means including a parcelreceiving portion pivotally mounted thereon and independently tiltablewith respect to another parcel receiving portion, said parcel receivingportion normally riding in a horizontal position relative to the line oftravel; an endless drive means including motor means to energize saiddrive means, and each of said parcel receptacle means fixed to saiddrive means for movement; guide means on said frame paralleling saidendless drive means, and engageable by said receptacle means wherebysaid receptacle means is stabilized during movement, reset track meanson said frame generally parallel with said guide means; actuator tiemeans secured to and extending from said parcel receiving portionoutwardly of said pivot and having a portion riding in said reset trackmeans whereby said parcel receiving portion remains horizontal;deflecting means selectively positioned in said reset means and adaptedto interrupt said reset track means and upon engagement, channel saidactuator tie means portion riding in said reset track means above orbelow said reset track means causing said actuator tie means to shiftvertically and tyingly impart direct pivoting of said parcel receivingmeans normal to the line of travel whereby a parcel thereon will begravitationally discharged, and maintaining said means in said tiltablecondition, and another deflecting means adapted to return said actuatortie means portion back to said reset track means and vertically shiftsaid actuator tie means and tyingly pivot said parcel receiving portionto said generally horizontal position.
 6. A parcel sorting conveyoradapted to receive parcels and convey them to a selected position wherethey are discharged from said conveyor comprising: an endless drivemeans; motor means connected to said endless drive means and adapted tobe energized to move said endless drive means; a plurality of contiguousparcel receptacle means each having a carriage assembly including guidewheels, said assembly being fixed to said endless drive means and aparcel receiving tray pivotally mounted on said carriage assembly ridinggenerally horizontal yet adapted to be tilted to either side of the lineof travel; guide track means mounted parallel to and vertically spacedfrom at least a portion of said endless drive means, and said guidewheels engageable with said guide track whereby the movement of saidcarriage assembly is stabilized; reset track means mounted parallel tosaid guide track means and adapted to cooperatively maintain said traygenerally horizontal; actuator means riding in said reset track meansand secured to said parcel receiving tray; single direction deflectingmeans selectively positioned in said reset track means adapted to beactivated to vertically shift said actuator means and pivot said parcelreceiving tray from the horizontal in said single direction normal tothe line of travel whereby a parcel thereon will be gravitationallydischarged therefrom, and counterbalance deflector means adapted tovertically shift said actuator means to said reset means to return saidtray to said generally horizontal position.
 7. A parcel sorting conveyoras defined in claim 6 wherein said actuator means is secured to saidtray outward of said pivotal connection of said tray to said carriageassembly.
 8. A parcel sorting conveyor as defined in claim 6 whereinsaid single direction deflecting means includes at least one pivotablegate formed in said reset track means adapted to be pivoted verticallyupward interrupting said reset track; a left-hand track section mountedabove said reset track; said gate when pivoted upward mating with saidleft-hand tRack causing said actuator means to be moved verticallyupward tilting said tray to the left of the line of travel, and saidgate being returnable to continue said reset track upon passagetherethrough of said actuator means.
 9. A parcel sorting conveyor asdefined in claim 6 wherein said single direction deflecting meansincludes at least one pivotable gate formed in said reset track adaptedto be pivoted vertically downward interrupting said reset track; aright-hand track section mounted below said reset track; said gate whenpivoted downwardly mating with said right-hand track causing saidactuator means to be moved vertically downward tilting said tray to theright of the line of travel, and said gate being returnable to continuesaid reset track upon passage therethrough of said actuator means.
 10. Aparcel sorting conveyor as defined in claim 8 wherein saidcounterbalance deflecting means includes a pivotally mounted yieldableramp in said left-hand track section including a counterweight tomaintain said ramp as a continuation of said left-hand track section,said ramp being yieldable when said counterweight is momentarilyovercome by the weight of said actuator means thereby causing said rampto pivot downwardly and engage said reset track causing said actuatormeans to vertically shift downward and return said tray to saidgenerally horizontal position.
 11. A parcel sorting conveyor as definedin claim 8 wherein said counterbalance deflecting means includes a fixedramp extending upward between said right-hand track section and saidreset track means, a pivotally mounted yieldable ramp formed in saidreset track above said fixed ramp including a counterweight maintainingsaid pivotally mounted ramp in a horizontal position; said actuatormeans engaging said fixed ramp and in turn engaging said pivotallymounted ramp pivoting the same upwardly allowing said actuator means tomove into said reset means and the same vertically shift upwardly toreturn said tray to said generally horizontal position.
 12. A parcelsorting conveyor as defined in claim 6 wherein said single directiondeflector means are each activated for movement by a deflector actuatorwhich includes a plunger united with said single direction deflectormeans adapted to stroke outwardly or inwardly in the alternative toeffect movement of said single direction deflector means.
 13. A parcelsorting conveyor as defined in claim 12 wherein said plunger is unitedwith said single direction deflector means by a cam race assembly.
 14. Aparcel sorting conveyor as defined in claim 6 wherein said actuatormeans includes an actuator arm pivotally connected to said carriageassembly and a roller mounted on said arm remote from said pivotalconnection; said roller riding in said reset track means and aconnecting rod extending between said tray and said actuator arm.